$10 and up - based on education and exprerience.  Additional compensation for bilingual skills.  $1/hour shift differential for working the 3pm to 11pm shift.

Job Purpose:

To assist youth counselors and senior youth counselors in providing a safe, therapeutic and learning environment for children and youth ages 0-18.          

Essential Job Duties:

   • Supervision:  Maintain visual supervision and know where children and youth are at all times through

      implementation of the program schedule, positive interactions with youth, and participating in

      activities with the youth.  

   • Structure:  Maintain integrity of the program structure and ensure the therapeutic environment of the

      program by following the program schedule, helping youth meet outside expectations, and providing

      positive learning opportunities and experiences for the youth. 

   • Relationship Building:  Develop and maintain effective therapeutic relationships by treating youth with

     respect, providing positive feedback, and displaying empathy. 

   • Therapeutic Intervention:  Provide therapeutic intervention. Identify and use opportunities for teaching

      life skills in every day activities. 

   • Professionalism:  Promote a professional, positive work environment by reporting to shifts, trainings,

      and meetings on time, following agency protocols, and being flexible to meet client and program

      needs. 

   • Documentation: Effectively communicate written information (client files, medication logs, pass

      reports, caseworker calls, etc.) throughout shift to establish and maintain an accurate record of each

      child’s placement. Maintain accurate records needed by agency (incident reports or restraint reports, etc.). 

   • Residential Ecology:  Implement agency Policies and Procedures, licensing and accreditation standards,

      and maintain a clean and aesthetic environment.

Other Duties:

   • Other duties as directed by the supervisor:

        o Complete assignments in a timely and accurate manner; and

        o Is willing to take on additional responsibility in a positive manner.

   • Complete training necessary to perform position consistent with program and agency staff

      development plans:

        o Identify training appropriate to this position; and

        o Take responsibility for scheduling and attending appropriate training.

Job Requirements:

   • High School Diploma or equivalent.

   • 19 years of age.

   • Valid driver’s license with no more than 3 points and completion of a Defensive Driving

      Course.

   • Knowledge in:  child abuse and neglect, child development, behavior management and verbal and

      physical intervention.

   • Knowledge of childcare practices, developmental issues and group processes and practices, which are

      important to the position.

   • Knowledge and demonstrated skills related to theory and practices for emotionally disturbed children.

   • Personal characteristics and experiential background including:

        o Necessary stamina and temperament to work with children and youth (birth-18 years of age) who

            are experiencing crisis and/or emotional and/or behavior disorders.

   • Strong written and verbal communication skills.

   • Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure using whole numbers, common

      fractions and decimals.

   • Ability to interact with clients with sensitivity and responsiveness to cultural differences in the service

      population.

   • Ability to:  communicate with:  children, parents, police, CPS and staff.

   • Ability to care for children through nurturing and provide age-appropriate discipline techniques.

   • Ability to provide positive role modeling and maintain confidentiality of children.

   • Ability to work cooperatively with team members.

   • Patience and emotional stability.

   • Non-judgmental, positive attitude.

   • Flexibility, creativity, and dependability.

   • Ability to appropriately handle confidential information.

   • Ability to understand and consistently implement policies and procedures of the Agency.

   • Ability to provide appropriate care and supervision of youth at all times.

   • Ability to interact and work cooperatively and effectively with other personnel and students.

Environment/Physical Requirements:

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

   • Duties are performed in a variety of environments ranging from highly stressful and potentially

      aggressive (physical

      interventions, escorts, etc.) to casual and leisurely, in both indoor and outdoor settings.

   • Employee must be able to successfully complete the TCI course and conduct physical interventions as

      taught by the instructor.  Examples: (a) wrapping arms around child’s limbs and maintain clasped

      hands against opposing pressure,

      (b) kneeling to break a child’s fall while arms are wrapped around a child, (c) ability to assume a sitting

         position while arms are wrapped around a child.

   • Employee must be awake and alert for the entire shift, which may be up to 10 to 12 hours.

   • While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, use hands to

      handle or feel objects or children; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently

      is required to walk.  The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel,

      crouch, or crawl.

   • The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this

       job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

   • While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather

      conditions.

   • There is potential exposure to assaultive clients.

   • There is potential exposure to bodily fluids (Universal Health Precautions are required to be followed).

   • The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate and occasionally loud.